Oral history interview with Charles A. Bennett conducted by Michael E. Kulwin on March 05, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Bennett discusses early gaming figures, real estate, Howard Hughes, and casino development. Bennett also weighs in on the Carol Lombard plane crash tragedy, and the early atomic bomb tests conducted in Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with David L. Weide conducted by Claytee D. White on May 31, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Weide discusses his career as a geologist, teaching geology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the history of the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Weide begins by explaining the history behind the name "Blue Diamond Village," how he came to study geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the employment process at UNLV. He describes the geological history of Nevada, hosting his own folk music program on the local radio station, KNPR, and his opinions on UNLV's intention to become a "Research One" institution.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Wilma Cooper conducted by Sara G. Finklea on February 27, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Cooper discusses her life in Boulder City and Henderson, Nevada from 1936 to 1977.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Mattie M. Wormwood conducted by Judy Williams on March 09, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Wormwood discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also shares the changes Las Vegas went through during times of segregation and discrimination.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patrick Keenan conducted by Clyde C. Caldwell on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Keenan discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in March of 1952, life in early Las Vegas, Nevada, the growth of the city, and the nearby nuclear testing.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Elwood Schmidt conducted by Claytee D. White on and November 14, 2018 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Schmidt discusses his upbringing and early interest in medicine. He talks about working for the United States Public Health Service, interviewing Emergency Medical Service (EMS) ambulance drivers, and writing
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with George Dickerson conducted by Perry Kaufman on an unknown date in the 1970s for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Dickerson shares his impressions of Las Vegas, Nevada from when he first visited in the 1940s. Dickerson also discusses practicing law in Las Vegas and the development of the profession throughout the years.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Chester Lockwood conducted by James R. Crevelt Jr. on April 25, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Lockwood talks about his early life and discusses hotel development and culture in early Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Helen Smith conducted by Claytee D. White on February 20, 2007 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses her personal history and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956. She then talks about her employment at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital and the change to University Medical Center (UMC). Smith recalls an air conditioning business she co-owned with her husband at the time, and the activities she did as a member of Daughters of the Nile, a women's community service organization. Lastly, she discusses education and the general changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Ralph Denton conducted by Donalene V. Ravitch on February 24, 1980 and March 16, 1980 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. In these interviews, Denton recalls growing up in Caliente, Nevada. He talks about aspects and events in the community both during his life and before his birth, including the school system, housing, mining, the importance of the railroad, the stagecoach, the advent of legal gambling, farming, and the periodic flooding. He also discusses Caliente's population and the increase in ethnic minorities and Mormons in the area, the importance of politics, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's whistlestop visit to the town, and the economy during the depression.
Archival Collection